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Philippians Series
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We're taking the book of Philippians and going through it today — just the first 18 verses. If you've got a Bible, follow along with me. If not, it will come up on the screen.
Philippi is the first church that Paul plants in Europe. In Acts chapter 16, he gets a vision where the Holy Spirit stops him from going to a certain place that he wanted to go. He gets a dream from a man from Macedonia calling him over, saying, "Come help over here."
Paul had wanted to go to a certain place and the Spirit stopped him. God said, "No, you're not going in that direction." Three times — and it was the third time that God said, "No, this is the direction we're going."
Sometimes we make decisions, we think we're going in the right direction, and God says, "No, no, come over here." It's not that you're doing anything wrong, it's not that you're not going for the things of God. It's just the will of God.
Paul writes this letter while sitting in prison, in chains. Yet over 16 times the word joy appears in this letter. It just shows that his circumstances do not determine his fruit. He's still going to do right by God. He writes Colossians, Philippians, and Ephesians all while in prison.
Philippi was a Roman colony known for many retired soldiers. It was a very patriotic place — nationalism was strong, and persecution could really happen to those who stepped out of line. It's not necessarily the area you'd choose to plant a church, but God sends him there.
Philippians is a book of 104 verses, and the name or title of Jesus is mentioned over 51 times. It's obvious to see where his theology is, where his heart is, where his mind is. Philippi was known as a miniature Rome of Macedonia.
In Acts 16:13, Paul gathers with a group of women meeting by the river to pray. That indicates there weren't enough Jewish men to have a synagogue — you needed a certain number of men to start one. So he meets with the women down at the river, and Jesus' name begins to grow there.
That's what we do when we plant churches. We go into an area where there's no church at all. In certain rural villages in Africa, there are no churches. It takes one person to step forward and say, "I'm going to go into that area." We might want to go to Nairobi where it's more profitable, easier to put a building up, easier to gather people — but the Holy Spirit says, "No, you'll go to such and such a place." Always allow God to lead.
"Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ."
Many think Paul was called Saul before, and God changed his name to Paul on the road to Damascus. That's actually not true. He has two names — both Paul and Saul. Many people from his area had two names, a Hebrew and a Greek. Acts 13:9 says, "Saul, who is also called Paul."
We pick things up in church, hear them once, and never question them. But the more you study, the more you realize some things you once thought were true — they're not.
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Yet through lack of knowledge, people perish.
Knowledge is important, but if love isn't our directional compass, it doesn't matter how much knowledge we have. Even a thousand words in tongues make us a clanging cymbal without love. Bring the balance.
Timothy had a Jewish mother and Greek father. Paul circumcised Timothy to help with his work among the Jews.
Paul could have called himself anything. "I'm the Apostle Paul," or "I'm the guy who met Jesus on the road to Damascus." But he says, "I'm a bondservant." That's what we are — servants, slaves of Christ. He's our master. Paul comes from a place of humility.
Too many people today are running after titles — desperate. "This is Bishop So-and-so, Apostle This, Prophet That." I'm not saying you can't have a title relating to your work. I'm saying the amount of titles being dished out is astounding.
Go on Facebook — "Evangelist So-and-so" — and they don't even go to church. Who made you an apostle? Who made you bishop? If we go to the real meaning of bishop, these should be overseers of many churches. When I go to Africa, they call me a bishop; because I'm in their culture, I let it pass. But in the UK, Lee's not going to introduce me as "Bishop Aaron."
Some believe the office of apostle died with the original apostles. Others believe there are still apostles today. Let's not argue — there's definitely the work of an apostle.
Some talk about a Jezebel spirit. The Bible doesn't use that phrase — but there are definitely Jezebel traits. Let's not argue about things that aren't salvation issues. Study them, look into them, but don't fall out over them.
If anyone comes with another gospel, if anyone tells you about another Jesus, have nothing to do with them.
If I go wacky and start talking about Jesus in a different way, run from the church. But on other things, be mature enough to have a conversation without falling out.
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Paul brings a family feel to this. "Our Father" — like the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father who art in heaven." Like Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd." This is personal.
In many other religions, God is distant. But in Christianity, it's a personal faith. It's our Father. It's my shepherd.
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."
Paul is chained up in prison, and he's writing this letter because these people had done so much for him — supplies, financial aid, going above and beyond. He's so grateful. No wonder he could sit in prison and mention joy more than 16 times.
We've all got those kinds of people in our lives. Doesn't matter what you're going through — some people you never forget because of what they've done for you.
Loyalty is a precious word, and unfortunately it's not seen enough in church. It's not about guilt — I've seen loyalty weaponized in horrible ways.
We're currently about to plant in Coventry. It's taken a while because the person we're planting with is trying to leave his current church the right way. The church hasn't planted with him, and it's taken over a year. If he just said, "I'm leaving my church, I'll plant with you," I wouldn't want to use him. His integrity matters — but obstacles have been put in his way to make him feel guilty.
Loyalty works both ways — from the church to the individual, and from the individual to the church. When you go through a tough time, loyalty gives you someone to rely on. It makes the difficult season more bearable.
While there's a church with open doors, people will flood in — and people are where the problems come from. That's why it's on us to be mature, to grow in the word, to grow in understanding.
Those that are students of the word — when the bad times come, when loyalty is broken, when anything hits you, you're more likely to stand than someone who just gets a 40-minute sermon every Sunday.
"Always in every prayer of mine making requests for you all with joy."
Paul found it easy to pray for them. Make it easy for your leaders to pray for you. Whatever season you're in, make their job easy. Their job is tough enough without bashing heads with individuals.
Let's be like-minded — one mind, one spirit, one heart. Let's all say, "I want to know more. I want to grow. I want to go deeper."
"For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now."
The Philippian church didn't wait to see if Paul was a winner before they supported him. They got on with it from day one.
Our vision is simple — from here to the coast, into Europe, into the world. It's Matthew 28, the Great Commission. Everybody can jump on. Nobody's left out.
We've been going 10 years and we're still planting. We've not gone off in a different direction. Maybe it's time to hold hands and let's go. Tomorrow's not promised to any of us. Why wait?
"Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus."
When Jesus starts with us, he always brings it to completion. Don't put roadblocks in the way to hinder his work.
Always remember to move out of the driving seat. Give God the wheel and let him drive.
Backseat drivers are the worst. Don't sit in the back telling Jesus, "Turn left now. Turn right. You should have done this." Just trust him. He's never failed you yet, and he won't start now.
"Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart... you all are partakers with me of grace."
Paul is a man of great intellect and a man with a big heart. Both are needed. Knowledge is great and it's needed, but a big heart is needed alongside it.
We are all partakers. We're all in this together. When one part of the body rejoices, we all rejoice. When one suffers, we all suffer.
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment."
The Philippian church had great love. But Paul doesn't hesitate to tell them, "You can love more." Love can never be in excess.
But blind love is not advised. There was blind love going on in the Corinthian church, and Paul had to rebuke them. You know what the world says today — "Love is love." No, there is knowledge and wisdom needed as well.
"That you may approve the things that are excellent..."
The word approve is the same word used in James: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
Both testing and approve come from the silversmith:
In the same way, when we go through testing times, dross comes to the surface, and God scrapes it off. Sometimes the heat turns up in our difficult season and we ask, "Why won't it stop?" There's a little more dross coming to the top. Then when God looks down on us, his face is reflected — "Now you look like me."
A scientific experiment was done with trees. They grew them in a sealed sphere where no outside elements could reach them. Perfect water, perfect sunlight, everything. The trees grew and grew — but at a certain size, they kept falling over.
One clever scientist said, "It's the wind. There's no wind in here."
When a young tree faces wind, it strengthens itself and digs its roots down. When it's older, its roots are firm, ready to stand against any storm. But take the wind away from a baby tree, and it never learns to stand.
That's why we need testing times. That's why we need pressure moments. None of us want difficult times, but that's where you grow the most.
"Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
All those that abide in Christ bear fruit. John 15: "Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself..." If you abide in him, you will bear fruit. If you don't, you won't — or the fruit won't last.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Those are strong words. We know people make mistakes. No one lives a perfect life. But there's a standard — a good tree will bear good fruit; a bad tree will keep bearing bad fruit. That's why the Bible tells us to judge a tree by its fruit.
We are not to judge the outside world — that's not our place. But the Bible tells us to judge those inside. Make a spiritual evaluation of your brothers and sisters.
But that does not mean pen-and-paper time, tracking everyone's mistakes. Don't be that person in church keeping a record: "This person did this, that person did that." You just create problems for yourself.
However — if someone lives an immoral life, they can't lead a Bible study. If someone gets drunk every week, they can't work with kids. There has to be a judgment.
The measure you use to judge others, the same measure will be used on you.
The standard is the word of God. We've all fallen short. We don't need someone waiting to pounce on every little mistake. But if someone is living in sin, it needs to be called out.
We want to grow spiritually, mature, numerically — in all areas. Let's grow with a firm foundation, not on sand.
Let's be men and women who can say, "Hands up, I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." Let's not be people who say, "I don't want to offend anyone." Let's challenge one another:
"You know what, it's three Fridays on the trot now, and on your Facebook you've been absolutely blottoed. Brother, what kind of a signpost are you? Sister, you tell your husband you're a Christian, but you're joining him in those activities."
At the same time — we don't want Facebook police. Every post screenshotted and sent to the pastor. I had that in the early days at Old Bry. That's one of the reasons I came off Facebook.
But brothers, let us challenge one another. Sometimes a strong word from a friend is better than letting someone drift. It's not only your life you're playing with — you're a signpost to the world, and you're playing with everyone else's destination too. This is a matter of life and death.
"But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel... my chains are in Christ."
It's evident to all. It doesn't matter if I'm in chains, in a good season, or in a bad season — it should be evident I belong to Jesus. And because of that, it will further the gospel.
"Most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."
Because of my mess, it becomes someone else's message.
In September 2022, a woman in Iran named Amini was arrested by the morality police because her hijab wasn't worn correctly. She was thrown in prison, beaten, and within three days she lost her life.
They have morality police — people whose specific job is to inspect how women are dressed. You can get up to 72 lashes if your hijab isn't right, because apparently if a woman shows her hair, it's her fault if she's assaulted. It's so warped.
Because of this one woman's chains — because of her death — many women in Iran went out to protest and began burning their hijabs in the streets. Because of her chains, they burned their hijabs.
Sometimes situations like a believer being thrown in prison stir up boldness in others. We look and say, "God, why don't you deliver him?" But the longer he's left in there, the more boldness rises in others.
God paints on a much bigger canvas than me and you. His ways are not our ways.
We can't second-guess God. All we can do is trust him. I've second-guessed many times and thought I knew how something would happen, and it didn't. That's when I try to backseat drive. Just trust him. "Lord, you're driving. I'm here because of you. I'm going to live my life as you see fit, even if it doesn't make sense to me."
I'll only know right from wrong, I'll only know the voice of God, if I'm a man of the word. Otherwise, I can be deceived. My flesh wants things. Satan is ready to dangle a golden carrot.
When we pray, if we are men and women of the word, we pray according to his will and hear the answers according to what his word says. It's not "God told me to leave Helen and marry someone else" — the Bible would not permit that, so it can't be God.
Behind every great man is an even better woman. Willow, we're together — till death do us part. Not just because we love each other, but because God has told us this is the direction. God drives the car of our life.
"Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill... What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice."
Some were preaching Christ to add to Paul's affliction. It wasn't just that they wanted to win — they wanted Paul to lose. Yet Paul said, "At least Christ is being preached. Let them preach even with wrong motives. At least the name of Jesus is being set forth."
When you study the Bible, you look at cultural, contextual, and historical setting — but you also want to apply the lessons to your life. I'm not in prison. No one's preaching Jesus to increase my affliction. So how does this apply?
I look at today's world and I see a competitive spirit among ministries and churches. We should not have a competitive spirit. We're on the same team. If you win, I win. If I win, you win.
But too often, someone wants to be elevated, so they push someone else down. It happens in churches. Let's say I need a preacher, and there are two candidates. I ask both if they're willing. Behind the scenes, do they both just get on their knees — "God, if this is what you're calling me to do, let me do it well"? Or do you get the odd text: "I don't mean to say anything, but so-and-so posted this on Facebook the other day..." — dirtying the other person's name.
We see it in the secular world — people trample others to get promoted. Sadly, we see it in the church too. It might start with great intentions, but people become willing to do anything to get what they want. That's selfish ambition. It's all about image. It's all about your own success.
Paul says, "I don't mind. They can do what they want, as long as Jesus is being preached." I'll take from that: it's not the way I'd want it to be, but I'll see the good in it.
Let us never be a competitive ministry. Of course we want to succeed — with the goal of telling as many people about Jesus as possible. That's our success. But it can never be at the expense of another ministry.
When I was explaining LBC — Love Builds Community — to a local church, I was mindful of my words. I didn't want them thinking, "Oh, they haven't got their own building, so they're gathering in a community center to try and pick up everyone." We're not in competition. We're on the same team. It doesn't matter what building people worship in on Sunday, as long as it's God-fearing and Bible-believing.
I'll finish with this picture. When the boats are in the harbor and the water rises, all the boats in the harbor rise together.
In the same way, when the Spirit of God rises in this community, let all the churches in this community rise. Let that be our only desire. Let that be our heart. Let it be genuine. And let's keep praying in that direction.
